Moving to Reno: What to Sort Out First

Reno sits at 4,505 ft on the eastern side of the Sierra, with a population of roughly 283,000 in the city and more than 500,000 in the metro area. It is the seat of Washoe County. Sparks, immediately east, is a separate city with its own services — which matters the first time you try to report a pothole.

Tax

Nevada has no individual income tax. For most people moving from California that is the single largest financial difference, and it is why the state leans on sales tax and gaming revenue instead. There is no state return to file.

The DMV

Nevada's DMV wants, at minimum:

• Proof of identity, and proof of any name changes
• Proof of Social Security number
• Two proofs of Nevada residential address — a utility bill, a lease
• Your existing state licence, permit or ID card
• DMV-approved translations of any non-English document

For the vehicle as well: Nevada evidence of insurance — out-of-state insurance is not accepted, so the policy has to be switched before the appointment, not after. A VIN inspection is required, and an emissions test may be, depending on the vehicle and where you live in the county.

The DMV does not publish the deadline on its new-resident page; confirm it with them directly rather than relying on what a forum says.

Schools

Washoe County School District covers Reno, Sparks, Verdi, Incline Village, Sun Valley and Gerlach — 59,565 students, the second largest district in Nevada and 58th largest in the country. There is no separate Reno district to choose between.

The weather you are actually moving to

Not what people expect. The airport at 4,415 ft averages about 22 inches of snow a season, most of it December to February, with January heaviest at roughly 6 inches. Neighbourhoods on the west and south sides at 5,000 to 5,500 ft take two to three times that from the same storm — worth knowing before you choose a street.

Summers are hot and dry, regularly over 90°F, with very low humidity and sharp overnight cooling.

The mountains are the real variable. Donner Summit is at 7,239 ft and Mt Rose at 8,887 ft, and both close in storms that leave the valley merely wet. If your job, your family or your skiing is on the other side of one of them, that drive is the thing to plan around — see the road conditions hub and the Reno road conditions.

Cameras on US-395, the north–south spine through Reno and Carson City.

Then the enjoyable part

The city runs 87 park facilities (parks), the foothills start at the edge of town, and Lake Tahoe is 35 to 60 minutes away depending on which pass is open.